Fusee and method of making same



Oct. 14, 1941. SHERMAN 2,258,868

FUSEE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Feb. 17, 1938 INVENTOR LOUIE A. SHERMAN ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 14, 1941 T ,OIFFICE} FUS'EE AND METHOD SAME Louie A. Sherman, Florissant, Mo., zassignor to Safetee Torpedo Corporation, St. 'Louis, 'Mo.,' .a corporation oflYIissouri Ailipllcaition Fbruary 17, 1938, Serial N0.:190,9.65

' 16 Claims. .(Cl. 10224) inventionrelates to a certain new and us'etul improvement in railroad fusees and to the imethod of making thesame.

My invention has for its primary object the provision-of a railroad fusee having a match or igniting member which is positively and firmly secured in the fusee, which is--capab1e of com- ;municating the flame directly into the interior :ofi the combustible -or flame-producing portion of the fusee, and which will not become separated zfrom the :body of the fuseeduring thecourse of handling.

clvlyinvention has for an additional object the :provision of a-railro'ad fusee which may be readily .and cheaply manufactured, which is waterproof,

mugged, and durable in -construction, which may be accurately timed to'burn orssignal for a precise :and predetermined period of time, which will burn or signal with-a uniform continuous and uninterrupted flame throughout substantially its :entire length, and which is highly efficient in the :performanceof itsstated functions. I I

, ;My invention further has for its object the provision of a unique method for the production coflsaidufusees economically both as to time and as .to :labor and other manufacturing costs and expenses.

with theabove and-otherobjectsin view, any iinventi'on resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combinaation of parts and in the unique manufacturing steps presently described and pointed outin the :claims. I a I y In the accompanyingdrawing,

,- :Figure 1 isa diagrammatic longitudinal secing'my invention.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawing, which illustrates a ,-;preferred embodiment 'of my present invention, the fuses, includes a suitably elongated openended cylindrical casing :A. formed preferably of relatively rigid cardboard or othersuitablematelrial impregnated: or; coated with; asuitable waterproofing tor water-repellent material, such, for instance, as paraiiin or the like. I

Suitably secured in closure-forming disposition in and across the lower .end of the casing A isa base plug Lofanysuitable material, which, .in turn, is centrally provided with an axially outwardly presented nail, spike, or the like 2, for ground-engagement for uprightly supporting the fusee in signaling position, as will be "well understood and as best seen in Figures 1 and 2. The signaling .material proper of the fusee'is preferably in the form of a plurality of cylindrical pellets B, which are constructed of suitable inflammable material substantially as in detail described in United States Letters Patent No. 2,120,580 issued :to me on June .14, $1938, to which reference 'is'made. The presentgenerally cylindrical pellets B, as molded, are each formedwith a frustro-conical, or downwardly and inwardly tapered, recess 3 in itsone or upper end face, the oblique or tapering .side wall of which at its upper margin is spaced diametrically inwardly from the outer cylindrical face of the particular ,pelletB in the provision ofa fiat rim or shoulder, as at 4. I 1

At its opposite or lower end face, each pellet B is provided with a frustro-conical or tapering projection 5 havinga diametrical dimension at its outer end or apex substantially equaltothe idiametricaldimension of the baseof the opposed :recess 3. :At its base, however, the tongue or projection-5 has a diametricaLdimensiOn somewhat larger than theidiametrical' dimension of the mouth of its co-voperable or interehga'ging recess 3 and somewhat smaller than "the dia-J .recesses *3 at their 'mou'th, the projections 5 0f theFseveral pellets B do not fit entirely or snugly wit-hin the respectiverecesses 3 when the pellets :B are initially stacked. Thus, when the casing zor shell Ais initially filled with-a plurality-of the-,pelletsB, the uppermost pellet -B' will attits recessed :endiproject for a short dis'tance-out- :wardly ibeyond ithe' margin .of the upper-end' of the casing or shell A, as best seen in Figure 1.

Thereupon the stacked pellets B are compressed or forced downwardly into the casing A with a steady, firm pressure, whereupon the respective pellet projections or tongues 5 will be fully seated in the respective complementary pellet recesses or pockets 3, slightly upsetting or outwardly forcing the respective recess shoulders or rims 4 and correspondingly slightly deforming the cylindrical wall of the casing A upon its inner face, so that, when the several pellets B are finally forced downwardly into final abutting or so-called interlocking engagement one with the other, the said slight outward rimwise bulging of the respective pellets B and their consequent shell-engagement will wedge and thereby retain the several pellets B securely in stacked interengaging relation within the casing A, all as best seen in Figure 2.

It will, of course, be understood in this connection that the casing A has a length to accommodate a predetermined number of the pellets or units B, which are preferably, as pointed out in .my said co-pending application, constructed and sized so as to burn for a predetermined or selected interval of time, for instance, two minutes.

Hence, the particular fusee, embodying, as illustrated in the drawing, six units or pellets B, will burn approximately a period of twelve minutes.

The end pellet B of each fusee is preferably formed centrally with an axially extending recess-continuation 3', and into the end recess 3 and its communication extension 3 of the seated end pellet B, is forced or otherwise suitably disposed an excessive quantity of .a suitable socalled match-forming or igniter material 0 when in a plastic or moldable consistency, as best indicated in Figure 3.

Disposed then transversely across the upper open end of the casing A and over the plastic or putty-like mass 0. is a snugly-fitting annular washer or plug D centrally apertured, the washer D being formed preferably of a waterproof or moisture-resisting, but inflammable material of substantially structural strength, such as heavy dense cardboard, for instance.

The washer or plug D is now pressed upon the plastic match-forming mass C by a suitable die or plunger E having a centrally positioned hemispherical button-forming recess 8 in its contact face, with the result that a portion of such mass is compacted in the recess 3 and its continuation 3 and another portion of such mass C is forced upwardly through the aperture 1 into the die-recess 8 in the formation, when shaped and permitted to harden, of a hemi-spherical extrusion or striker-head 9.

The shell A at its upper margin a is thereupon suitably crimped or flanged downwardly, as at H], securely over the marginal portion of the washer or end plug D, and the formation of the fusee thus completed.

When the match-head 9 is ignited by conventional striking action, the flame generated thereby will be quickly and speedily communicated through the body of the match-forming mass C directly into the interior of the top pellet B, ignition of such pellet B being thus absolutely assured. As the top pellet B burns to completion,

the flame generated thereby will be positively transmitted to the next succeeding pellet B and thence successively and equally positively to all the pellets B of the fusee by reason of their intimate tongue-and-recess interengagement.

In this connection, it may be stated that, when the shell A is loaded or charged, the sloping walls of the respective end-recesses 3 will tend somewhat to granulate as the pellets B are forced together. Thus, a certain amount of granulation will occur between the contiguous surfaces of adjacent pellets B, producing, as it may be said, a coalesced or merged boundary line between the two pellets B, increasing the flame communicating relation therebetween. Further, by reason of the peculiar interlocking shape of the several pellets B, the projection or tongue 3 of each pellet B will actually, when seated within the corresponding recess 3 of the next adjacent pellet B, function, as it also may be said, as a match or igniter communicating directly with the interior or body-portion of such next adjacent pellet B, thus again positively insuring continuous burning of the fusee.

As shown in Figure 6, the casing or shell A may also be loaded throughout its entire length with a single charge of flame-producing or combustible material B", which may be placed within the shell A initially in powdered form and then compacted, the upper end portion 12" of such material being suitably shaped in the provision of a frustro-conical recess, as at 3*, substantially similar in shape and size to the extended frustro-conical recess 3 of the uppermost pellet B, as previously described, for seating the igniting or match-material C.

It should be understood that other changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the fusee and in its method of construction may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In a fusee, a preformed cylindrical combustible pellet having a diametrically reduced co-axial irustro-conical recess in its one end face and a frustro-conical co-axial tongue projecting from its other end face.

2. In a fusee, a cylindrical combustible pellet having a diametrically reduced frustro-conical recess in its one end face and a frustro-conical tongue projecting from its opposite end face, said tongue being in axial height equal to the axial depth of the recess and being at its base of greater diametrical size than the mouth of the recess.

3. That method of constructing a fusee which comprises providing a cylindrical shell closed at an end, molding a plurality of combustible pellets for snug-fitting disposition within the shell, disposing a predetermined number of said pellets in end to end contiguous relationship within the shell, endwise compressing said pellets for forcing the contiguous end faces thereof into tight abutment one with the other, disposing a mass of plastic friction-ignitable striker material within the shell upon the outwardly presented end of the uppermost pellet, and pressing a centrally apertured close-fitting disk within the shell upon said mass and extruding a portion thereof outwardly through and beyond the disk aperture in the formation of a readily accessible strikerhead.

4. The method of constructing a fusee which comprises providing a cylindrical shell closed at an end, molding a plurality of combustible pellets for snug-fitting disposition within the shell, disposing a predetermined number ofsaid pellets in end to end contiguous relationship within the tongue complementary in shape to, but larger shell, endwise compressing said pellets for forcing the contiguous end faces thereof into tight abutment each with the other, disposing a mass of plastic friction-ignitable striker material within the shell upon the outwardly presented end of the uppermost pellet, pressing a centrally apertured close-fitting disk within the shell upon said mass and extruding a portion thereof outwardly through and beyond the disk-aperture in the formation of a readily accessible striker-head, and then crimping an end of the shell retainingly over the marginal portion of the disk.

5. That method of constructing a fusee which comprises providing a cylindrical shell closed at an end, disposing a predetermined quantity of l gflame-producing combustible material within the shell, endwise compressing said material for comshell, endwise compressing said material for forming an outwardly opening recess at the exposed end thereof, disposing the mass of frictionignitablestriker material within the shell at the open end thereof, and pressing an apertured close-fitting disk within the shell upon said mass for compacting the mass Within said recess and extruding a portion thereof outwardly through and beyond the disk aperture in the formation of a readily accessible striker-head.

7. That method of constructing a fusee which comprises providing a cylindrical shell, disposing a predetermined quantity of flame-producing combustible material within the shell, forming an outwardly opening recess in the combustible material, disposing a mass of friction-ignitable striker material Within the shell adjacent the outwardly opening recess, and pressing an apertured close-fitting disk within the shell upon said mass for compacting the mass within said recess and extruding a portion thereof outwardly through and beyond the disk aperture in the formation of a readily accessible striker-head.

8. A fusee comprising, in combination, a closed rigid tubular shell and a plurality of preformed hard cylindrical combustible units, each unit having in an end a recess having a fiat base wall and a tapering annular side wall and upon its other end a longitudinally projecting tongue of frusto-conical conformation and said units being housed within, and surrounded by, the shell with the tongue of one unit snugly seated in, and endwise abuttingly engaging the base of, the recess of a contiguous unit.

9. A fusee comprising, in combination, a

closed-end rigid tubular shell and a plurality of preformed hard cylindrical combustible units, each unit having in an end a recess having a flat base wall and tapering annular side wall and upon its other end a longitudinally projecting diametrically than the wall of, said recess, and said units being housed within, and surrounded by, the shell with the tongue of one unit snugly seated in, and endwise abuttingly engaging the base of, the recess of a contiguous unit.

10. A fusee comprising, in combination, a

closed-end rigid tubular shell and a plurality of preformed initially cylindrical combustible units, each unit having in an end a recess having a tapering annular wall and upon its other end a longitudinally projecting tongue complementary in shape to, but larger diametrically than the wall of, said recess, and said units being housed within, and surrounded by, the shell with the tongue of one unit snugly seated in the recess of a contiguous unit and with said wall of respective units in laterally deformed wedge-engagement with the wall of the shell.

11. In a fusee, a cylindrical combustible unit peripherally cut away along the circumferential margin of one end face in the provision of an axially projecting frusto-conical tongue and provided on its opposite end face with an upstanding annular wall having a beveled inner face.

12. In a fusee, a cylindrical combustible unit having a deformable axially projecting circumferential wall on its one end face and a walldeforming tongue projecting from its other end face.

13. That method of constructing a fusee which comprises providing a cylindrical shell, disposing a predetermined quantity of flame-producing combustible material within the shell, disposing a mass of friction-ignitable striker material Within the shell, and pressing an apertured closefitting disk within the shell upon said mass for compacting the mass between the disk and the combustible material and extruding a portion thereof outwardly through said aperture'and upon the outer face of the disk in the formation of a striker-head.

14. That method of constructinga fusee which comprises providing a cylindrical shell, disposing a predetermined quantity of flame-producing combustible material within the shell in such a manner as to present an outwardly presented recess at one end, disposing a mass of frictionignitable striker material within the shell, and pressing an apertured close-fitting disk within the shell upon said mass for compacting the mass within said recess and against the inner face of the disk and extruding a portion thereof outwardly through said aperture and upon the outer face of the disk in the formation of a strikerhead.

15. That method of making a fusee which comprises partially filling a tubular shell with flameproducing combustible material, further filling the shell with a plastic ignition substance, and forcing an apertured closure-member inwardly upon the plastic ignition substance and thereby extruding a portion of said ignition substance in the formation of an accessible striker-head.

16. A fusee comprising a shell filled with aplurality of endwise abutting combustible units, each of said units being diametrally enlarged in the zone of its abutment with the next adjacent unit for annular binding engagement with the inner face of the shell.

LOUIE A. SHERMAN. 

